Veteran Montgomery County political observer Margaret Gibbons writes about the jockeying for next year's race for Montgomery County commissioner.

Incumbent Bruce L. Castor Jr. will be one of the Republican nominees, but forget about Turncoat Jim Matthews for other spot. Matthews has maneuvered himself into Arlen Specter territory. He's a man without a party and will be tossed away by both parties.

From Gibbons' column:

The jockeying for the county Republican Committee's two county commissioner endorsements in next year's elections is already under way.

GOP incumbents Bruce L. Castor Jr. and James R. Matthews, former running mates who do not like each other one bit, have said they will be running for re-election next year. No surprise there.
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However, there are others who believe that Matthews, who was censured by party leaders for his unprecedented alliance with Democratic Commissioner Joseph M. Hoeffel III, cannot win that second GOP endorsement and they want it for themselves. And, to date, these believers are all women.

The three women who have expressed an interest in that second endorsement include county jury commissioner Marie N. Cavanaugh of North Wales, Lower Merion commissioner Jenny Brown and Lower Merion GOPer Jill Govberg, who sought the endorsement four years ago but bowed out when she did not secure enough votes. Govberg has been attending the commissioners' meetings regularly for more than a year. It will be interesting to watch this play out.

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